Numismatic

(1911-1949) China Yunnan Province Silver 50 Fen VF

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Minted in China's Yunnan Province during a transformative era spanning 1911 to 1949, this silver 50 Fen coin offers a fascinating glimpse into regional monetary history. Known to catalogers as Y#257, this issue belongs to the celebrated Dragon Half Dollar series. Each coin contains approximately 0.3395 troy ounces of silver, though the precious metal content of this series was gradually reduced as the decades progressed. One of the most intriguing production details of this issue is that the coins were struck utilizing previously unused dies, capturing the intricate details of the engraving with remarkable clarity. The obverse features a traditional layout of four Chinese ideograms placed neatly inside a beaded central circle, which is itself encircled by an outer legend. The reverse of the coin showcases a powerful Chinese dragon depicted alongside a pearl, a classic motif flanked on either side by decorative rosettes. Graded in Very Fine condition, this circulated silver piece stands as a compelling testament to early twentieth-century Chinese provincial minting.